7 ideas
15970 | People generalise because it is easier to understand, and that is mistaken for deep philosophy [Feynman] |
Full Idea: The topic of the laws of nature has a tendency to become too philosophical because it becomes too general, and a person talks in such generalities, that everybody can understand him. It is then considered to be some deep philosophy. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 1) | |
A reaction: Feynman was famously anti-philosophical, but this is a good challenge. I like philosophy because I want to know broad general truths about my world, but I may just be gravitating towards what is easier. The challenge is to get true generalities. |
7903 | The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna] |
Full Idea: The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom. | |
From: Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88) | |
A reaction: What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate'). |
21997 | In Marxism the state will be superseded [Singer] |
Full Idea: It is a famous Marxist doctrine that the state will be superseded. | |
From: Peter Singer (Marx [1980], 9) | |
A reaction: Why is that final state communism rather than anarchism? |
21993 | Materialist history says we are subject to incomprehensible forces [Singer] |
Full Idea: The materialist conception of history tells us that human beings are totally subject to forces they do not understand and control. | |
From: Peter Singer (Marx [1980], 6) | |
A reaction: How does Marx know the forces? An exceptionally influential idea, because it is a modern commonplace that we have very little control over our own lives (apart from right wingers asserting that 'you can have anything if you really really want it'). |
9410 | Physical Laws are rhythms and patterns in nature, revealed by analysis [Feynman] |
Full Idea: There is a rhythm and a pattern between the phenomena of nature which is not apparent to the eye, but only to the eye of analysis; and it is these rhythms and patterns which we call Physical Laws. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], Ch.1) |
18530 | Nobody understands quantum mechanics [Feynman] |
Full Idea: I think I can safely say the nobody understands quantum mechanics. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 6) | |
A reaction: It is really important that philosophers grasp this point! |
17707 | We should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces [Feynman, by Mares] |
Full Idea: Feynman claims that we should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces, which have positive length, width and depth. | |
From: report of Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], p.166) by Edwin D. Mares - A Priori 06.7 | |
A reaction: The idea seems to be these are the minimum bits of space in which something can happen. |